Jo Apr 7, 2024
Kyuhyonginjiui, the first surveying instrument invented in Korea in 1467, was used to identify targets and directions on the ground and measure heights and distances.
It was also called injiui.
The instrument consists of two parts; a vertical axis and a horizontal scale plate that revolves around the axis vertically.
Kyuhyong, a device for aiming at target objects is attached to the axis, goes up and down vertically.
There are 24 directions inscribed on the plate for direction finding.
You can aim at any objects by turning the vertical axis round and moving kyuhyong up and down along the axis.
The compass installed on the instrument helped correct aiming.
Kyuhyonginjiui survey was, in principle, the same as present plane table surveying.
Such instrument for surveying was not found in European countries until the late 16th century, and a similar one to Kyuhyonginjiui was finally built in a German factory in the 17th century.
The fact that Korean ancestors made and used such a surveying instrument as Kyuhyonginjiui a century before other countries demonstrates their high creative wisdom and talent.
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Jo Apr 4, 2024
Moran Hill is located on the bank of the Taedong River, which flows through Pyongyang City. It was called Kumsu Hill during the feudal Joson dynasty. Later, it was given the name “Moran Hill” as it resembles a peony (pronounced like ‘moran’ in Korean)
Regarding it as a pride of Pyongyang from olden times, Korean people have created many legends related to the hill.
The legends reflective of the attachment to and love for Moran Hill are associated with the pride in having the beautiful Moran Hill and with the patriotism of Korean people who defended it from foreign aggressors.
The legends in praise of the beauty of Moran Hill are “Hungbudong” and “Story of Chongryu Cliff”. The former is about a mysterious spring and the latter says that the beautiful Chongryu Cliff was formed by the wonder of nature of the Dragon King, who was impressed by a boy with a heart of gold in Pyongyang.
The beautiful and noble customs and manners of Pyongyang people are depicted in such legends like “Chongryu Pavilion in Moonlight” conveying the sincerity of a boy in Kangdong who tried to save a girl in the Walled City of Pyongyang from misery and “Door of Happiness” reflective of the sentiments of the people.
Among the legends that represent the fighting spirit of the Pyongyang people who defended the beautiful city Pyongyang are “Ulmil Warrior” about a warrior who devoted himself to the defense of Pyongyang and Moran Hill, and “Kye Wol Hyang and ‘A Man of Heroic and Noble Mind’” about the struggle of Kye Wol Hyang, a young woman, who turned out in the fight against Japanese invaders.
As mentioned above, the legends of Moran Hill serve as priceless cultural heritage of our nation as they represent the desire and aspiration to boast of the beauty of Moran Hill to the world, the patriotism of Korean people, who defended it against foreign aggressors, and their beautiful sentiments.
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Jo Apr 2, 2024
37th Sci-Tech Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology was held in the university indoor stadium from February 20 to 22, Juche 113(2024).
The subject was “Science and technology ― decisive guarantee for the fulfillment of the five-year plan”. The festival aimed to solve scientific and technological problems of key importance in fulfilling the five-year plan on the basis of the successes achieved in the research work for the implementation of the resolutions of the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea and plenary meetings of its Central Committee by the lecturers, researchers, post-graduate students and students of the university.
The festival took the form of scientific and technological paper readings, exhibition contest of units and exchange of new technology in seven sections including machine and transportation, information and communication, metal and chemistry, and electronics and automation. On display were 190-odd research findings including “establishment of pig iron production process by energy-saving oxygen heat blast furnace”.
“Portable defibrillator” by Ri Yong Chol, a section head at the Bioengineering Institute of Mirae Sci-tech Centre, and other 70-odd items were highly appreciated.
Upholding the noble intention of the respected Comrade
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Jo Apr 1, 2024
Chongmyong means the start of clear weather.
Every year it falls on April 4th or 5th. This year April 4 is Chongmyong.
Chongmyong, which comes in the most beautiful and balmy season of the year, is closely related to the life of Korean people. Considering farming as the mainstay, Korean people used to soak rice seeds in water before Chongmyong and sow them over seedbeds. On the day, they usually started spring sowing.
With regard to this, a historical classic “Tongguksesigi” says, “spring ploughing starts on Chongmyong on all farms”.
About this time of the year they used to sow crops like foxtail millet, sorghum, millet, bean, adzuki bean, etc., and many kinds of vegetables such as pumpkin, radish, pepper, spring onion, etc. They also sowed their well-kept gardens with flowers like balsam and zinnia.
On the other hand, Korean people regarded it as an ancestral custom to visit their ancestors’ graves dressed in traditional costumes on the day. They used to climb the mountain to take good care of the graves by turfing them and heaping up earth over the mounds lowered throughout the winter before expressing their condolences to the ancestors. And some people moved graves to other places, which was called chonmyo or ijang. The custom of repairing or removing graves is connected with the fact that the day is seasonally suitable for piling earth up or grave removal with high rate of rooting of turfs and unfrozen ground.
It is also associated with beautiful and noble sense of moral obligation of Korean people, who treated their ancestors with utmost courtesy.
The custom is still being handed down.
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Jo Mar 10, 2024
“Muyedobothongji”, printed from wood blocks in 1790, is an illustrated book of martial arts by Ri Tok Mu, Pak Je Ga, Paek Tong Su et al. where the traditional martial arts of our nation are comprehensively systemized.
The book illustrates 24 kinds of martial arts.
It is surmised that the illustrations were offered by Kim Hong Do, a famous painter of those days. Preceding books on martial arts were “Muyebo” descriptive of six kinds of martial arts written by Han Kyo in the sixteenth century and a book with addition of twelve more kinds to the six martial arts in the mid-eighteenth century.
“Muyedobothongji” has another addition of six kinds to them.
The book illustrates detailed moves of several fighting skills like swordsmanship, spearsmanship, archery, etc. on the ground and on a horse.
The book has a full collection of data related to Korean boxing that started in Ancient Joson, was improved in Koguryo age and was completed during the Koryo and feudal Joson dynasties.
This book is of weighty importance in showing the long history and superiority of the national martial arts created in our country, the cradle of Taekwon-Do.
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Jo Mar 6, 2024
Our people have regarded dressing themselves up as decorum for themselves and others from olden times, paying special attention to it.
When they needed to go out, they never forgot to examine their clothing, and they never loosed their breast-ties however hot the weather was.
In the house, too, they kept their clothes tidy, and they regarded it as politeness to tidy themselves when they were expecting seniors or guests.
When they visited other people’s houses, they shook dust or anything dirty away from their clothing, tidied them up, and placed their shoes squarely before going in.
However busy and tired they were, they always washed their clothes well regularly and ironed wrinkles out of them.
In addition, they were dressed appropriately in different circumstances, i.e. seasons, ages, happy and sad occasions, etc.
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